GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT ROADRUNNERS
Mar 17, 2022SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (19-29-2-1) vs TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (17-28-4-1)
FRI., MAR. 19 | 7:00 P.M. | TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER | TUCSON, AZ
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Rundown: The Barracuda and Roadrunners return to the ice on Friday for the second game of three over four days. The Barracuda shutout the Roadrunners on Wednesday, 4-0, behind 40 saves from Alex Stalock and a pair of goals from Jake McGrew. The Barracuda are now 3-1 against the Coyotes top affiliate this season, having won three straight, and having outscored the Roadrunners 13-2 in the three contests.
Marching Along: The Barracuda have now picked up points (4-0-1-1) in six of its first seven games to begin March, including a pair of wins over Tucson. The Barracuda now sit five points behind the San Diego Gulls for the last playoff spot in the Pacific Division. The Gulls are coming off a 6-1 win over Henderson on Wednesday and have won two in a row.
Trudging Tucson: The Roadrunners' loss to the Barracuda on Wednesday was their seventh-straight defeat (0-5-2-0). Tucson boasts an AHL-worst -68 goal-differential and is averaging a league-low 2.60 goals-for-per-game and rank 30th in goals against-per-contest (3.96). The Roadrunners’ power-play ranks ninth in the league (21%), while its penalty kill is last in the AHL (74.9%). With both Matias Maccelli and Michael Carcone up with the Arizona Coyotes, Jan Jenik is the active team leader in points (15+20=35) and power-play goals (8).
Powering Up: The Barracuda had its four-game power-play streak (8/16=50%) snapped on Wednesday but still rank sixth in the AHL on the power-play. The Barracuda have multiple power-play goals in five of its last seven games.
Double Digits: Both Jake McGrew (10, 11) and Evan Weinger (10) each reach double-digit goals on Wednesday, joining six other Barracuda skaters to reach 10 or more goals. The Barracuda are 13th in the AHL in goals-for-per-game (3.16).
Sizzlin’ Sash: Sasha Chmelevski notched three assists for the second time over the last three games on Wednesday and now has nine points (2+7=9) over his last six. The third-year pro is second on the team in scoring (11+22=33) and has already set career-highs this season in points, assists, power-play goals (5), game-winning goals (3), shootout goals (2), and shots (112).
Montana Tough: Rookie d-man Montana Onyebuchi dropped the gloves for the second time in as many games on Wednesday and now leads all rookies in fighting majors (9) and penalty minutes (99). He also added an assist and now has helpers in consecutive games. Onyebuchi’s fight was one of five that broke out in the game as the two clubs combined for 114 penalty minutes.
Sommer Time: On Jan. 8, 2022, head coach Roy Sommer picked up AHL victory #800 with a 6-3 win over the Henderson Silver Knights. The Oakland, Calif., native has been behind the bench for 1,726 games in the AHL, going 807-708-50-161 (W-L-T-OTL/SOL) over that span. During the 2015-16 season, the Barracuda’s first in San Jose, Sommer surpassed Fred “Bun” Cook (636 wins) for the most wins in AHL history, notching a 4-2 victory on Feb. 10, 2016, over Ontario. Sommer collected his 700th win on Dec. 3, 2017, at Bakersfield (2-1 W).